What Golden West Humanitarian Foundation Does

Decades of Experience

Before joining Golden West, team members cleared IEDs on the frontline of current conflicts, innovated anti-armor solutions for NATO, pioneered underwater explosive techniques for the oil and gas industry, led demining operations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and much more.

With over 200 years of combined explosive ordnance disposal, we have an unparalleled wealth of knowledge to draw upon when tackling the problem of unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war and munitions stockpile clearance worldwide. Experience in the field combined with astute program management allows us to provide high-impact, sustainable solutions that are built to last within the economic constraints of humanitarian operations.

What Golden West Does

Golden West has extensive experience in each stage of Explosive Remnants of War disposal. This means that we can perform, teach, consult and develop innovative techniques, hardware and software to tackle the problem of ERW disposal in the most efficient and safe way.

Engineered Solutions

Technical Training

Expert Consultancy

Field Operations

The Process of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Removal

Detection

Locating the ERW, be it underground, underwater or on the edge of a rice paddy using detection hardware, software and manual techniques.

Identification

Extensive training and specialized tools allow EOD staff to identify the munition type, age and state, thus dictating how it should be dealt with.

Strategy

Once the location and type of the munition has been determined, an appropriate strategy must be decided upon before any action is taken.

Render Safe

To make a munition safe, its trigger function is interrupted to avoid an unacceptable detonation.

Destruction

If the ERW is not stable enough to be recycled, it will be destroyed using demolitions techniques and/or specialized equipment.

Recycling

If the ERW is suitable for recycling into either a humanitarian demining charge or a training aid, it will be processed by our Proprietary Explosive Harvest System.

A Brief Explanation

The process of removing explosive weaponry has always been pioneered by the military, meaning that military acronyms are commonplace. These can be difficult to follow when first becoming acquainted with our work. As a result, we have prepared a brief glossary of the most used terms.

ERW

Explosive Remnants of War, or ERW, is a term that encompasses all weapons left over after an armed conflict. These can include but are not limited to artillery shells, cluster munitions, grenades, bombs and rockets. ERWs still cause large scale destruction to both people and the environment decades after their use. Golden West’s team have years of expertise in finding and dealing with these ERWs across the world.

UXO

UXO refers to Unexploded Ordnance is contained within the heading of Explosive Remnants of War. Unexploded Ordnance refers to explosive munitions that have been fired or used but have failed to function.

EOD

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) is the process of mitigating the threat posed by explosive ordnance. EOD Technicians are trained to dispose of ERW, UXo and all other types of ordnance. Golden West Senior Field Operations staff have Master EOD status, resulting from over 15 years of EOD work in a senior position.

AXO

Abandoned Explosive Ordnance refers to explosive ordnance that has not been used or has been left behind or dumped and which is no longer under control of the party that left it behind or dumped it.

PSSM

Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) is the process by which munition stockpiles are correctly secured and maintained. These stockpiles must be secured to avoid them falling into the wrong hands and to ensure accountability for deadly weaponry. Each munition has a useful life in which it will work as designed. However, with time, these munitions may decay at an accelerated pace due to environmental factors. Therefore it is imperative that these munitions and storage facilities are maintained to ensure that when a munition will no longer function as designed, it is planned for, seen and appropriately disposed of.

Stockpiles

Munitions are stockpiled by countries and other combatants in order to have military capabilities. These stockpiles may become surplus to requirements or beyond their useful age. They must then be decommissioned in a safe and controlled manner. Golden West has decades of experience of stockpile remediation.

AP and AT Mines

Anti Personnel and Anti Tank Mines are Explosive Remnants of War. The Golden West Explosive Harvesting System in Cambodia produces the humanitarian demining charges used to destroy these life-threatening ERWs.

MANPADS

Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) can pose a huge threat when not properly managed and disposed of, posing danger to civilian aviation and military alike when they fall into the wrong hands.

CWD/CMD

Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) or Conventional Munitions Destruction (CMD) denotes the proper disposal of weapons and munitions that are no longer in service. Golden West Humanitarian Foundation is highly qualified in performing CMD/CWD.